DIY Abstract watercolor painted cake

09.24.14

Last weekend we hosted my lovely friend Davina’s baby shower at the studio, so I felt like I could take it upon myself to make whatever kind of crazy cake I wanted to go along with it. After all, sugar is in the name and I only need half a reason to bust out my next Picasso of cakes anyways! Plus Davina and Kyle decided not to find out the sex of the baby early, so it left me no choice but to use every kid-friendly color there ever was just in case.

All of that to say I ended up making this DIY abstract watercolor painted cake as a result. I also had at least five people at the party ask me if it was edible, and yes, of course it is (it’s practically criminal if it’s not!). Plus it takes almost no artistic skills whatsoever to decorate this baby, so you can line all of your big kids up and just let them have at it for their next party or occasion, too!

Plain, white iced cake (any flavor will do, just make sure the icing has hardened a bit)

Small bowl with water and paper towel

Use several small bowls to prep for each color you plan to use, and fill them each with about a quarter inch of vodka or alcohol base. Next, use a tooth pick to drop a small dab of gel food color into each cup and use the pick to stir the color well.

The more gel coloring you add the stronger the color will show up, the less you add the more transparent the color will be. Adding too much also makes the food coloring stay a bit shiny, so try to avoid excess if you can.

Use a food dedicated painted brush (I.e.- any unused, strictly for food brush) paint on each color sporadically over the iced cake. Continue to do this until it’s as colorful as you’d like, just make sure to dip your brush in the bowl of water to rinse before each color, being sure to wipe the water from the brush with the paper towel. Putting plain water on icing will make a sticky mess!

For even more unique colors, try painting a quick run over another color like pink and blue to make a rainbow purple. Inevitably kids will get this going right away, but I actually had to talk myself into letting the colors touch about. Not OCD at all, you guys! Nothing to see here..

I really love how it turned out, and now I’m just deciding on what other things I can paint edible watercolor on. I tell ya, when I get on a kick I really like to run with it, you know?! Have you all ever painted anything totally random on your desserts? Let’s hear it!

* Please note that rubbing alcohol can be used in place of vodka or clear flavored alcohols if you choose not to use such items. A lot of bakers and how-to’s use the rubbing alcohol trick of the trade because, though it shouldn’t be consumed by mouth, when it is used is very small quantities mixed with gel food coloring, it actually evaporates so quickly that it doesn’t cause harm when used correctly. With all projects use see on Sugar & Cloth, you assume full responsibility when recreating tutorials at home.

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DIY Abstract watercolor painted cake

09.24.14

Last weekend we hosted my lovely friend Davina’s baby shower at the studio, so I felt like I could take it upon myself to make whatever kind of crazy cake I wanted to go along with it. After all, sugar is in the name and I only need half a reason to bust out my next Picasso of cakes anyways! Plus Davina and Kyle decided not to find out the sex of the baby early, so it left me no choice but to use every kid-friendly color there ever was just in case.

All of that to say I ended up making this DIY abstract watercolor painted cake as a result. I also had at least five people at the party ask me if it was edible, and yes, of course it is (it’s practically criminal if it’s not!). Plus it takes almost no artistic skills whatsoever to decorate this baby, so you can line all of your big kids up and just let them have at it for their next party or occasion, too!

Plain, white iced cake (any flavor will do, just make sure the icing has hardened a bit)

Small bowl with water and paper towel

Use several small bowls to prep for each color you plan to use, and fill them each with about a quarter inch of vodka or alcohol base. Next, use a tooth pick to drop a small dab of gel food color into each cup and use the pick to stir the color well.

The more gel coloring you add the stronger the color will show up, the less you add the more transparent the color will be. Adding too much also makes the food coloring stay a bit shiny, so try to avoid excess if you can.

Use a food dedicated painted brush (I.e.- any unused, strictly for food brush) paint on each color sporadically over the iced cake. Continue to do this until it’s as colorful as you’d like, just make sure to dip your brush in the bowl of water to rinse before each color, being sure to wipe the water from the brush with the paper towel. Putting plain water on icing will make a sticky mess!

For even more unique colors, try painting a quick run over another color like pink and blue to make a rainbow purple. Inevitably kids will get this going right away, but I actually had to talk myself into letting the colors touch about. Not OCD at all, you guys! Nothing to see here..

I really love how it turned out, and now I’m just deciding on what other things I can paint edible watercolor on. I tell ya, when I get on a kick I really like to run with it, you know?! Have you all ever painted anything totally random on your desserts? Let’s hear it!

* Please note that rubbing alcohol can be used in place of vodka or clear flavored alcohols if you choose not to use such items. A lot of bakers and how-to’s use the rubbing alcohol trick of the trade because, though it shouldn’t be consumed by mouth, when it is used is very small quantities mixed with gel food coloring, it actually evaporates so quickly that it doesn’t cause harm when used correctly. With all projects use see on Sugar & Cloth, you assume full responsibility when recreating tutorials at home.

09.24.14

09.24.14

09.24.14

Looks great! I am however very concerned about using rubbing alcohol with food products, particularly if you’re letting little kids paint the cake. Rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol, which is toxic if consumed, even in small amounts. Save the rubbing alcohol for disinfecting the kids’ skinned knees after they run around in the backyard on all that sugar; for the cake, stick with vodka.

Hey Elijah! Glad you love the look :) Flavored extracts and clear liquors can be used instead, but not everyone will want their kid drunk painting (though my earlier artworks as a kid look like it) with straight vodka, so I included the rubbing alcohol as a monitored option. I added the option of clear, alcohol based extracts too as well as a disclaimer at the bottom of the post to clarify for those that may be uninformed! Thanks so much for speaking up in case, virtual hugs to you!

09.28.14

09.29.14

Kayla

10.02.14

Cute Cake? One quick question… I am under 21 so I cannot purchase vodka, and I dont know if thats safe to serve to my the younger guests eating the cake… Anyt other substitutes because I do not think parents would be okay with a 14 yr old eating a cake that has vodka in it. Thanks